Though many of the NHL's major prizes won't be handed out until Saturday night, the League kicked off its award weekend in grand style Friday.

Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks highlighted a field of eight winners announced during an hour-long show on NHL Network. Toews, the Chicago captain, won the Frank J. Selke Award as the League's best defensive forward.

Beginning at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, NBC Sports Network and CBC will join forces to co-host a live pregame television special in which the winners of the Hart Memorial, Calder Memorial, James Norris Memorial and Vezina trophies, along with the Ted Lindsay Award, will be revealed. The show can be seen on NBCSN in the United States and CBC in Canada prior to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

The Ottawa Senators had a big Friday night: Coach Paul MacLean took home the Jack Adams Award as the League's top coach, and veteran captain Daniel Alfredsson claimed the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero won the fourth NHL GM of the Year Award, edging Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks and Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens. All were first-time nominees.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the game's most gentlemanly player, for the third time in his career, edging Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and Chicago's Patrick Kane.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding was awarded the Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Harding announced in November he has multiple sclerosis but continued playing for the Wild.